Archive for February, 2016

Reclaimed wood ages brown – at least when it’s not daily exposed to light. Outside of time, other factors result in a wide range of brown – wood species, age of boards, original saw blade orientation, use and it’s exposure to a mix of man made influences – from tobacco smoke, pickle juice and other food grade fluids. All of the browns in their ‘found’ condition evoke a warm natural quality, but with individual personality. The woods below are a collection of antique grade Spruce/Fir, Hemlock, White Pine and potentially other species – sourced from barns, residential buildings, mushroom drying boards and Worcestershire Sauce tanks. The design possibilities within the family of natural browns are limitless.

The wood joists in the house aren’t being replaced by Blueline Construction – they were sistered at the start. A couple of 3″ x 12″ x 20′ reclaimed Pine pieces, coming off a local project, are being used as stringers for the first floor stair case. A hundred years ago, smaller lots of the joists, freshly sawn and green, arrived at a New York City building, by horse and wagon.

Bernard Gallagher and Frank Teo installing reclaimed Oak flooring at Brooklyn passive house. 3-5″ old growth woods “…grained and hued like pale Oak” (Joyce) from 19th c. farm structures in the Northeast. This is the first installation of reclaimed flooring at the house – to be followed by 12″ skip planed antique Eastern White Pine softwoods on the top floor.